The following article was one I wrote for OlyBlog in September, 2007. Although John Patric was not a third party Vice-Presidential candidate, he was a character worth noting. I am including the comments made at that time since they contain some valuable information.
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https://www.olyblog.net/newWP/2007/09/30/hugo-n-frye/
September 30, 2007
Hugo N. Frye
The candidate was walking the streets of Olympia about 35 years ago, leading with his chin as he was rounding the SW corner at Washington and 5th heading south. He was short and rumpled, his hair was white and unkempt. He had an ill-trimmed beard in an era when beards were rare in Oly. His big black-rimmed glasses were crooked.
I stopped him and mentioned I was planning on voting for him in the upcoming primary (it was either for the U.S. Senate or Governor). He seemed quite friendly when he asked if I subscribed to his periodical, The Saturday Evening Free Press.
I was not a subscriber. Now a real salesperson would've taken that opportunity to lure me in. But instead, his mood completely changed within nanoseconds– the candidate/editor exploded at me in a scene-causing rage. After unleashing a long list of expletives, he stormed off screaming at me over his shoulder, "Don't waste your vote on me, you little punk! Give it to someone who wants it!" Holy Tourette, Batman, what in the Hell was that?
I just had a John Patric encounter.
He's been gone for over two decades now, but if you were a Washington State voter between 1960 to the early 1980s, chances are you had the opportunity to cast your vote in the primaries for John "Hugo N. Frye" Patric. Yes, he frequently used that pen name in quotes on the ballot. "Hugo N. Frye." Get it?
John Patric (born 1902) grew up in Snohomish. His father ran a hardware store, his mother was the town librarian. During his high school years, John was President of his student body, the only election he ever won. He was also editor of the school magazine.
Patric had an interesting career as a struggling writer. His bread and butter was in the writing of magazine articles, and he was a regular contributor to National Geographic. He is probably best known as the author of the book, Yankee Hobo in the Orient, (later released under the title, Why Japan was Strong) and co-author of Repairmen Will Get You If You Don't Watch Out.
In 1957, after years of wandering and writing, John returned to Snohomish, which he called "Sodomish," and observed, "When I came back I found the most rotten, corrupt political situation I've seen anywhere in the world. It was like a big stinking thunderjug with the lid clamped down. I was forced to do the only thing I could– since all other avenues of protest were closed to me. I went down and bought a ten-dollar typewriter which you see there smashed up by the cops. I got some hectograph gelatin and made some copies. That's how I got started."
This proto-zine was called The Snohomish County Free Press, and by the reference to the typewriter being smashed up, you can guess Mr. Patric caused quite a stir with his publication. It took only 9 issues before John was arrested on an insanity charge. He was held in the Snohomish County Jail and then in the (now defunct) Northern State Hospital.
At the 1959 Washington Superior Court 4-day trial, John was defendant, attorney, and expert witness. In spite of getting branded a "schizophrenic, paranoid type," and described as "dangerous and may erupt into violence someday" by Northern's superintendent, John gave an effective defense of every American's right to be strange. Actually, in 1959, that was novel. And he was found sane by the jury, who took only 10 minutes to decide.
Due to the national media coverage of the trial, John renamed his publication The Saturday Evening Free Press (less provincial sounding, apparently) and continued to raise Hell. At one point his home was invaded and he was severely beaten.
John's real political career as a statewide figure began in 1960 when he ran in the primary against incumbent Gov. Al Rosellini. This was a typical Patric formula, to file against an unbeatable incumbent in the primary. He usually filed for high profile offices, like Governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. Congressman. For many, John "Hugo N. Frye" Patric's name on the ballot was the same as "None of the Above." I voted for him myself more than once.
As I recall, Patric usually made news whenever he filed as a candidate with the Secretary of State due to the fact he paid his filing fee entirely with loose change. He also got into a little trouble one year when he used his "Hugo N. Frye" name on a petition.
Here are some choice Patric quotes I gathered in the course of digging through his public life:
"What happened to me could happen to any of you"–To the jury in his 1959 insanity trial
"Americans have the right to be different."–1959 trial.
"Who owns the Post Office anyhow?"–Defending his decision to frank his own mail, just like members of Congress.
"The last time I won an office was when I was elected senior-class president in high school. That got old real quick."
[On his newspaper]: "I try to keep it slanderous. Failing that, I strive for blasphemy. Anything but the truth."
"Taxellini"–Patric's name for Gov. Rosellini, 1960.
[In response to reporter's question as to why he is running for Governor]: "To be a nuisance."–1964.
[In response to a reporter's question about what his program would be if elected Governor]: "That's my business."
"Dandy Evans, Greatest Governor in Washington History"–Description of Gov. Evans, 1968.
"I am very careful not to be elected to anything. When the Big Bust comes, the boobs are going to blame the Ruling Classes. They always do, and often they are liquidated, as in Russia and France in recent times."–1968.
"I regard women as a deterrent to getting anything done"–1967.
"Violence is stupid, no matter who uses it."–1967.
"Most peoples' word isn't worth the powder to blow them all to Hell."–1967.
"I'm just doin' what I Goddamn please, that's what I'm doin'."–1967.
[In response to a reporter's question if he would change things in Washington, D.C. should he defeat Scoop Jackson]: "You know better than that. But I'd make sure they all knew I was voting No on most of the issues. And I'd refuse to join a committee– there's nothing that says you have to be on a committee. And no stationery. Wastes money."–1970.
"You can't lose a race you didn't run for. Hell, I didn't even crawl. I left that for the candidates with all the money to buy fancy posters and TV ads"–1978.
"You can't criticize the rulers of this country unless you are willing to take on their responsibilities. I knew I couldn't win. So I won't even talk about what if I had."–1978.
"I run for every office available. Wait, check that. I file for every office. I don't run. I don't even crawl. It's just sort of a public service in case someone wants to vote for me."–1980.
"It's more fun to lose. That way you have something to look forward to next time."–1980.
"Lord, against Maggie [U.S. Sen. Warren G. Magnuson] in 1974 I got 20,000 votes, now that's funny."–1980.
"I just don't believe anyone has the right to criticize our public officials unless they are willing to face the grave responsibilities our elected officials face. I don't want those responsibilities but I'm making the offer to accept them. If the people want me, I'm here. I hope they don't."–1980.
"I was the only candidate who could prove he was sane, the others could only claim it."–1980.
Reporters loved John Patric and the colorful copy he provided. Clayton Fox of The Daily Olympian enjoyed describing Patric with phrases like, "the bearded bard of Snohomish, gadfly of golliwoggs and gooser of governmental gophers," or "Politicians cringed in their overstuffed chairs and early-morning habitues of The Spar started over their coffee cups as the bearded bard of Snohomish County, the editor-publisher of The Saturday Evening Free Press, the pricker of political stuffed shirts, the scourge of junkmailers, implacable foe of pollution and corruption, aider and abetter of bees, trees and ocean breezes, made the Olympia scene with hirsute stare and barbed tongue."
John Patric's last statewide primary was in the Oct. 1983 special election for the U.S. Senate. Out of 33 names on the ballot, Patric came in at number 30, with 211 votes, or 0.03%.
Patric died in Sept. 1985. He had fallen at his home and died as a result of complications during a brief stay in an Everett nursing home. Reporters and columnists gave extensive coverage to his passing, recognizing the ballot box would never be the same without Hugo N. Frye.
There were two odd bits of trivia to emerge after he died. First, although he said on more than one occasion he had nothing but contempt for the Social Security system and refused to get a number, you can find his name on the Social Security Death Index. Secondly, one of his associates, Caroline Diamond, told the Seattle Times on the occasion of Patric's passing, "I almost hesitate to tell this. But … John won something. He was elected a Democratic precinct committeeman recently. Who'd of ever thought? John Patric went to his grave a winner."
For several years after John's death, his brother, known as Bill Patrick, continued the tradition of filing for office in Snohomish County and never winning. He kept his brother's memory alive by distributing copies of Yankee Hobo in the Orient. Bill died in 2005 at the age of 86.
Comments on “Hugo N. Frye”
Ogre Mage
October 2, 2007 at 4:03 am
“I regard women as a
"I regard women as a deterrent to getting anything done"–Hugo N. Frye, 1967
Heh, I wonder how Frye would react to see a woman Governor, two women U.S. Senators and four women on the State Supreme Court in contemporary Washington state. There is even a female frontrunner for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Would his head explode?
localboy
February 23, 2010 at 1:31 am
I regard women as a deterrent
Well, having known and worked for Mr. Patric….and having monitored the metrics that offer some measure of the performance of said women……
I am pretty certain that he would say “They have proven my point!”
Laozu
June 29, 2008 at 9:43 am
John Patric
I knew Mr. Patric for nearly a quarter of a century, beginning with my high school years in Snohomish. He contributed much to my education at that time by recommending a series of books to read, from which I learned more than from much of my regular studies.
He told me he came back to Snohomish to start his paper, because that was the only place where no one could tell him: "Go back where you came from!"
He did not have much respect for the Seattle dailies, referring to them as the "Pea-Eye" and the "Seattle Crimes". But he did read the Daily Olympian. He once took me to Olympia and introduced me to editor Dean Shacklett, for whom he had respect. The Olympian and the Saturday Evening Free Press exchanged subs for some years, even up. Patric had more imagination and interesting experiences than any other ten men I have met. Just the Hugo N. Frye petition story could have been the basis for a small book. Its origins go back to Patric's high school days, and a letter he sent to the great Edmund Meany, who was then teaching history at the University of Washington.
His and Riis's Repairman book began as a project in the old Readers Digest, and the issue in which it appeared sold more copies than any previous issue of that magazine. Patric knew DeWitt Wallace, and how the genius Wallace began a new magazine in the middle of the depression, when many other magazines were going out of business. Like the old Digest, the Free Press had absolutely no advertising, so that its publisher could print anything he pleased.
stevenl
June 29, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Thanks!
Great information. I remember Mr. Shacklett as editor as well. I seldom agreed with his editorials, but met him a couple times and could see he had a sense of humor that could connect with Mr. Patric.
Patric's trial and his victory for the right to be odd sounds worthy of a whole book just by itself.
Wonderful Willie
September 12, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Aaaah Dear John
I knew him in the early 1970’s. In fact was something of a companion. I was almost 30 at the time. I think I can explain some of his excentricities as he disclosed a lot, I was a good listener. One of his ancestors (great grandfather) founded the town of Snohomish. He looked on it as a personal place not just a town. The town of Snohomish sits on the Snohomish river, at one time navigable to Pudget Sound and a stopping point for steamboats who went “up river” from Pudget Sound. Not sternwheeler steamboats but propeller driven ones. John had been a great lover of the Saturday Evening Post which his mother subscribed to when he was young. For him it was truly a love affair. He learned to love writing and being a writer from it. Hence later the Saturday Evening Free Press, an echo of the name.
John was a High School graduate and went to work as a newspaper reporter. He worked for a number of major newspapers in Washington State. In the 1970’s newspaper reporters loved him because he always provided them with a story when they had gone bone-dry for ideas. They made their editor happy with something always “news-worthy” and John was always “news-worthy”. He knew how to tell his side with literary finese (albeit without delacacy). You never forgot his description. He covered many major criminal trials in the 1920’s and told me, “Never be afraid of the judge or the lawyers in a courtroom. Most people lose because they are.” True to form he wasn’t afraid of saying anything pertaining to the charges or subjects brought up. Hence, he was “out-spoken”, a polite term for his style. He became, in the 1930’s, the “lead writer” for the National Geographic magazine. Another of his reading materials as a youth. He was very proud of that, for “lead writer” meant that when his article was published in the National Geographic it was the first article of the list, the “lead” article. He helped found the Readers Digest Magazine. He wrote for it until they began to accept “hootch” (i.e. booze) advertising. “Hootch” being his favorite term for distillants, he had seen the 1920’s “hootching age”, and was adamantly opposed to “hootch” it’s producers and any advertising for it. He quit the Readers Digest over its advertising the stuff. His claim was he was promised by the founder that they never would accept “hootch ads” but when the magazine became successful the owner “betrayed” his promise.
John wrote his book, “Yankee Hobo in the Orient”, in Oregon and published it himself. He not only wrote it, he printed it and even bound the books himself and then peddled them out of his “old valise”, a old battered, bruised, brown leather atrocity with a rope handle, broken latches, and held closed by an old piece of laundry line properly knotted. He loved to bring it, bulging with improprieties, into Courtrooms as he was defendent with legal defense being pro se (for himself).
As far as I know, he never lost a Court case.
He returned to Snohomish to retire he said after a life of world wide travel and writing. As he put it “like an old Salmon returning to its spawning grounds to die”. He found the town under the heel of “political corruption”, in fact the whole county and was willing to act against it. His “spawning grounds” had become polluted. So he founded his news-letter, which he called a newspaper. 8 1/2 by 11 inch sized because he could get the paper cheap and in bulk. His press was an old letter press which could be run manually without power if needs be using the large flywheel on the side. Spin it and the press worked. He had a line-o-type machine, Serial number 9, probably one of the first ones made. He had learned how to setup all the machinery and run it from various places he worked. Experienced men taught him when he was younger because he wanted to learn. All his gear he bought at auctions at the State Peniteniary since “old stuff wasn’t good enough for convicted criminals”. It was good enough for him.
He always ran for Governor of Washington. His reason was that he criticized the politicians so much he ought to be willing to be elected to office. As Governor he would seek to abolish the office as it was nothing but a money sieve on the treasury and the State could do without it. Besides he didn’t want all the work.
Sad to hear “old John” has gone to his reward. He fought corruption with a vengeance and his opponents knew it. He was incorruptable.
stevenl
September 13, 2008 at 1:45 am
WW
Great stuff! Thanks for contributing.
whiskey4nzc
November 1, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Questions about John Patric
I thought John Patric was from Frying Pan Creek, Florence, Oregon. I even went there in 1997 – Frying Pan Creek turned out to be a pretty dismal place, heavily wooded, not much of a creek, very primitive road at creek-side, mailboxes along the road every quarter mile or so (but the corresponding houses could not be seen through the bush). It was like something out of James Dickey’s “Deliverance.” Indeed, I had to do research in the local public library to even find it as no one in Florence seemed to have heard of Frying Pan Creek. Interestingly, the librarian told me someone had been through there a month earlier trying to find out about Patric.
More importantly, what ever happened to his other book, “Hobo Years”? It was supposed to be finished except for illustrations when “Yankee Hobo in the Orient” was revised.
stevenl
November 2, 2008 at 12:38 am
Hardcore Patric scholars can find some of his papers and publications in State Archives. He certainly deserves more recognition than my minimal coverage. He was a true Washington State original.
stevenl
December 8, 2010 at 3:57 am
The Top 20 Satirical Candidates Of All Time
The Museum of Hoaxes counted Patric as # 9 in the Top 20 Satirical Candidates Of All Time.
Laurian
December 8, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Nice
Your a Internet citation. Congrats. I think.
Fred Bird
January 23, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Patric’s infamous nicknames
I lived in Snohomish through the 1970s and was well acquainted with John Patric. He was hard to avoid, particularly since I worked for the local weekly newspaper, The Snohomish County Tribune, or as Patric called it, The Sodomish County Flattersheet, then owned by Bill (“Bigdome Billie” [see below]) Bates. Somewhere, I still have a photograph of the first house fire I ever covered as a reporter/photographer. The house was his.
Recently, while clearing out my archives, I ran across about a dozen copies of The Saturday Evening Free Press. I read them all looking, hoping for the one edition in which he blessed me with an official Patric nickname, but it wasn’t there. He named me “Bred Ferd”. My real name is Fred Bird. His nickname for me was quite tame compared to the many semi-libelous nicknames he created for folks who irritated him and it hard to not eventually irritate him. Still, I was honored with being anointed by Patric as a member of the local ruling class, although you would never have known that by my salary.
I know some of those infamous nicknames, but it would be fun and a historic challenge to collect them all. Contact fredbird46@gmail.com.
stevenl
January 24, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Thanks Fred
What a fun project. And feel free to share more Patric memories any time here on OlyBlog.
mary l
February 21, 2011 at 10:10 pm
john patric
Well folks, I am John Patric’s niece and let me tell you growing up in Snohomish in the fifties and sixties with him running loose was not easy. My life took a serious social nosedive. Because what defense does one have to having relatives whose behavior runs the gamut from eccentric to downright crazy? And I won’t even get into his brother, my father, Bill Patrick. Eccentricity, when squelched, oozes out someplace else. I’ve been fighting it my whole life. Along with all the rote labeling of being a mental case. I’m charmed to read how others found his being a crackpot endearing. I have a cache of letters written by him but am looking for an elusive 6″ stack, typed on onionskin of course to save on postage, that he wrote to the editor of the Snohomish Tribune, an incredibly delightful 87-year-old that it has just recently been my pleasure to make the acquaintance of. Who cetainly jousted with the Patric(k) brothers on a regular basis.
stevenl
February 22, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Welcome to OlyBlog
and thanks for commenting, Mary. Given your unique perspective, I think you have the makings of a very interesting book.
cool25
August 22, 2011 at 9:00 am
yeah truly, He seemed quite friendly when he asked if I subscribed to his periodical, The Saturday Evening Free Press.
soobocka
September 20, 2011 at 4:46 pm
solved
Many years ago it mustve been around 79 or 80, i was in the Everett public library. There was an older man in there desheveled,beard ,white hair ,glasses.He had a copy of Yankee Hobo In The Orient in his hand,and was telling another man that he was the author.It sounded interesting and wished to learn more about the book. When the opportunity arose i said “hello.”In response i got a somewhat hostile Why did you say that?” i was only about 20 and not a little bit intimidated as he went on a diatribe about how he didnt know why id said what i did , but he defended my right to say it .Anyways i quicly left the scene but always wondered who that was. Reading the above posts i have no doubt it was Mr John Patric
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And this comment came as an individual post:
https://www.olyblog.net/newWP/2007/10/04/i-knew-john-patrick-and-jim-patrick/
I Knew John Patrick and Jim Patrick….!
I was surprised this evening to read the blog about John Patrick! I had just gotten off the phone talking to my mother about the Patrick’s this evening.
I was born in Everett in 1938. My parents were personal friends with Jim and Nadine Patrick. Jim was John Patrick’s brother.
Jim Patrick ran a small printing business on a steep side-street in Everett, south off Hewitt Ave. I went to high school with Dick Patrick, Jim’s son. Dick had a attractive sister, Carol, who married a guy with the last name of ‘Turnipseed’; not sure where they live now.
John and Jim Patrick’s mother was a published poet with a repected reputation in Snohomish County in the 1920-30’s. So far I have been unable to find any of her work.
My folks met the Patrick’s through my Dad’s sister Violet Wold (deceased). It was Nadine Patrick, Jim’s wife, who taught my Mother, Florence, how to drive in Everett.
We used to visit Jim and Nadine Patrick’s house on north Oaks Street in Everett during the 1940′ and early ’50’s. The Patricks had about the first TV set in Everett. I was amazed to watch the Channel 5 indian test pattern until the ‘Lux Playhouse’ program came on for one hour in the evening.
I had met John Patrick a couple times. Once at his cluttered house in Snohomish and at his brother’s print shop in Everett.
I remember John Patrick’s messy old fashion gootee beard and sort of a wild demeanor and manner of speaking in ‘staccotto’ phrases. I remember everything John Patrick said seem to have an ‘edge’ to it, like a finger to the eye. He was a dower man with no discernible humor. I heard his reputation around Snohomish and Olympia from my folks and often saw his name on the ballot running for high office. I knew John Patrick had written a couple books when a younger man: ‘Yankee Hobo in the Orient’ and ibid ‘Don’t Let the Repairman Get You’.
Being an author in the 1940’s meant being a celebrity of sorts and obviously very smart to write and be published. John Patrick was a smallish man, about 5′ 6″-8″ and small frame. I never knew a ‘Bill’ as a brother to John Patrick, only ‘Jim’ Patrick who lived in Everett. Jim Patrick ran unsucessfully for Snohomish County Finance Director in the mid 1950’s. Jim had read Norman Vicent Peal’s popular book ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’. Jim Patrick was so sure he would be elected Finance Director that he went sort of ‘strange’ and withdrawn after the election defeat. Jim said the city fathers were in a conspiracy against him. After the election defeat, our parents never visited with the Patricks again. We used to be invited to their summer home on Lake Stevens.
I think that quirky ‘Patrick’ gene ran in the whole family. I remember my Dad, Lloyd Andersen (deceased) having a businessmen’s lunch at the Turf Cafe/Bar one day in the early 1960’s when Jim Patrick came in for coffee. My Dad offerred to buy Jim Patrick a cup of coffee. While chatting over coffee, my Dad noticed a ‘burning smell’ and heat on his side, then Dad discovered Jim Patrick had set his coat on fire! My Dad said, ‘Why Jim you set my coat on fire!’….Jim just got up and walked away, never again seen by my Dad. After the coat burning epidsode, I thought Jim Patrick thought my Dad, a friend, was also against him in the election loss and that by setting my Dad’s coat on fire was Jim’s ‘revenge’. Life in Everett.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on October 4, 2007 by irestimator2005.
Showing posts with label OlyBlog. Show all posts
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Friday, August 23, 2019
Friday, July 12, 2019
Willard W. Kemp
Willard W. Kemp
VP candidate for Christian Party (aka Christian Party of America) (1936)
Running mate with nominee: William Dudley Pelley (1890-1965)
Popular vote: 1,598 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/531
The campaign:
The campaign has been described in the Addendum (*) below. The Christian Party appeared on the ballot only in Washington State, where they ran a crop of candidates for several offices. Meanwhile, I'll share a few small details about the elusive Vice-Presidential nominee:
Willard W. Kemp, Pelley's running mate and resident of Alpine, Calif., had already gained attention from law enforcement before he was nominated. Based in the San Diego area, Kemp ran a paramilitary unit known as the "Silver Rangers" who would practice on property out in the hills east of El Cajon under the name of "San Diego Silver Shirt Rifle Club." The idea was to be prepared for May Day, 1934, when they would be waiting for an expect Communist uprising in San Diego and in the ensuing confusion the 200 or so Silver Shirts would emerge victorious and start their own revolution in the process with the help, Kemp believed, of local military units the San Diego Sheriff.
It didn't turn out that way. No Communists showed up, no uprising took place.
A government spy was within the midst of the Silver Shirts. Once he was discovered the fascists beat him and fractured his skull but it was too late to stop the government inquiries. By the time of the 1936 elections Kemp was already in the Federal radar.
What became of Kemp is a matter of conjecture. Did he quit the whole fascist organization in March, 1937 and vanish himself? Was he banned from living on the West Coast as a result of WWII security measures? One source claims Kemp killed himself after the 1936 defeat. Someone matching his name and description was in the news in Salt Lake City in 1938 as an alcoholic oil salesman accused of intoxicating some fireman on duty. His name came up frequently in 1940 during the Dies Committee investigations. Did Kemp die in Southern California in 1966? Lots of blanks to fill in on this case.
Election history: none
Other occupations: oil speculator and sales
Buried: ?
Notes:
*Addendum:
I originally compiled the following section for OlyBlog, Nov. 16, 2008, as a profile of 1936 Christian Party candidate for Washington State Governor Malcolm Mark Moore. Although Kemp is not named, he is described in a news report:
https://www.olyblog.net/newWP/2008/11/16/ungovernor-1936-malcolm-mark-moore/
Ungovernor, 1936 – Malcolm Mark Moore
The eight men running for Washington State Governor in 1936 represented the political spectrum from communist to theocratic fascist. And when I say "theocratic fascist," I’m not using inflammatory language to generalize a political group. No. The members of the Christian Party, or the Silver Shirts as they were known, promoted fascism, white supremacy, hatred of Jews, openly admired Hitler and Mussolini, and thought their presidential candidate communicated directly with otherworldly powers and was doing God’s work. What makes their gubernatorial candidate in 1936 so fascinating is that M.M. Moore was a respected political office-holder and pillar of the Ilwaco and Pacific County community. P.U.D. founder and Commissioner, Ilwaco City Treasurer and City Councilman, active in civic groups, store owner– his involvement with the Silver Shirts seemed out of place.
The historian Karen Hoppes provides some background on the Silver Shirts: "The Silvershirt Legion of America was born on January 30, 1933. Its founder and spiritual leader, William Dudley Pelley, fashioned the Silvershirts after the Storm Troopers of the NSDAP. Even though the ideology and structure mimicked the German Nazi Party, the Silvershirt Legion was the sole reflection of the spiritualistic ideas of its founder."
Pelley (1890-1965) had set up his headquarters in Asheville, N.C. Stating that he had "died" on May 29, 1928, the near-death experience had transformed him. According to Hoppes, "Pelley believed he had acquired amazing new powers of stamina and reflection. Furthermore, he claimed to possess a built-in ‘mental radio’ through which he could ‘tune in on the minds and voices of those in another dimension of being.’ Through his studies in astrology, occult, numerology and other metaphysical fields, Pelley concluded that he knew the answers to the questions plaguing mankind. These answers could be found in the messages of the Great Pyramid at Gizeh …" Hoppes says Pelley also predicted "the total collapse of the United States, which was to be September 16, 1936." He also predicted his own death would happen in 1962 (he guessed three years too soon) and Christ would return on Sept. 17, 2001.
It is estimated there were 15,000 party members by 1934. Pelley had visions of a "Christian Commonwealth." Hoppes: "In this system, the United States would be transformed into a giant corporation, which would be operated by native-born white American Christian stockholders who, without having to work, would each receive monthly dividends of $83.33."
The uniform, which was required to be worn at all party functions, consisted of a silver-gray shirt and a red "L" on the left breast. A blue tie included the special individual membership number sewn on. Party initiation and regulations were strict and complete obedience was expected.
Pelley announced his run for the U.S. Presidency in 1935, but managed to get his name on the ballot of only one state. Yup. You got it. The Evergreen State. The historian Eckard V. Toy Jr., disputing the oft-quoted "Soviet of Washington" label, makes this case for Pelley’s ability to run in our state: "Washington’s exceptionalism during the 1930s was probably due less to the radicalism of its parties than to the ‘eccentricity and opportunism’ of some of its politicians. The novelist Mary McCarthy made this point in 1936 when she described her home state’s political atmosphere as ‘wild, comic, theatrical, dishonest, disorganized, hopeful; but … not revolutionary.’"
Washington State was foreign territory to Pelley, but in spite of that he had no trouble attracting candidates to run for statewide office. Some of them had been active in Townsend Clubs and/or the Liberty Party campaign of 1932. They came from the middle class, some of them were professional men. Dr. Dwight D. Clarke of Olympia was the Christian Party candidate for Secretary of State. Chehalis insurance salesman Orville Roundtree, who had run for U.S. Congress as a Democrat in 1932 and Liberty Party in 1934, was trying a third time for the same office under the Christian Party. Roundtree would become Pelley’s chief organizer in Washington.
And then there was Christian Party gubernatorial candidate, M.M. Moore.
Malcolm Mark Moore was born in Washington State, probably in Clark County, Aug. 1883. He was the son of Ohio native Frank M. Moore, employed as a civilian clerk at Vancouver Barracks. In 1900 Frank appears to be a single father with two children, Malcolm and Alice. Malcolm married Juanita, a native of Oregon, around 1906 and settled in Portland. While there he worked as a clerk (1910) and by 1920 was a salesman for Goodyear Rubber Co. The couple had two daughters and a son. The Moores moved to Ilwaco around 1924.
Moore became active in Ilwaco civic affairs. A May 13, 1966 article in the Chinook Observer outlines Moore’s resume: "Mr. Moore has lived in Ilwaco for 42 years past and served in that city as a volunteer fireman for 30 years, on the town council for six years, town treasurer for nine years, town clerk for seven years, Ilwaco port auditor for five years, was organizer of Pacific county’s Public Utility District No. 2, and served as its commissioner for 20 years, and was secretary and a director of the Washington PUD Commissioners’ Association for six years."
"The Father of Public Power in Pacific County" as the South Bend Journal liked to call him, earned that name by being a tireless proponent of the then radical notion of establishing public utility districts in place of private power monopolies. It is hard to imagine the distinguished gentleman I see in newspaper photos allowing himself to wear a silly uniform and sign up with a specimen like Pelley. But he did.
Pelley campaigned throughout the state, giving many speeches. He was basically ignored by the press. One of the few descriptions of a Christian Party rally I found by a non-Pelley source comes from the left-wing Washington Commonwealth (Seattle), July 4, 1936:
Christian Party Strut Heroics
Staff Correspondent Attends Meeting of the Lowly Followers of the Self Styled Gods’ Own Representative
Ever seen William Dudley Pelley and his crew in action at a meeting of the Christian Commonwealth Party?
No? Then you’ve missed seeing some slickers work at the old game of skinning the people.
Boy, what a show! And how folks go for it!
"Into the crowded hall (Moose Temple, last Tuesday) walks Pelley, followed by his lieutenant, a tall false-alarm from California who aspires to be vice-president of the U.S., followed by their big noise, the official ballyhooer, followed by six color-bearers, three carrying the Stars and Stripes, and three the flag of the Christian Party– a big red "L" sewed on a field of white."
"Meanwhile we in the audience arise and sing the ‘Star Spangled Banner.’"
"Song concluded, and the air thus properly thickened with patriotism, the ballyhooer, now on the platform, starts out: ‘Folks, this is STILL America!’ (Applause)."
"’This is STILL the land of the free and the home of the brave!’ (Loud applause)."
"’And by God, citizens like us are going to see that it stays so!’ (Louder applause)."
"The big noise now proceeds to his real business, the build-up of Pelley, who is to follow him on the program, winding up, ‘And now I wish to introduce the man who has been chosen by God to lead America out of the depression!’"
"When Pelley takes the platform everyone gets up, including us, though we’re a little sickened by this tribute."
"Pelley gives us the works. From position 1, straight front to the audience, hands in pockets, he tells us that in all his travels through 30 states he has not seen a group of people more intelligent-looking than this one; that the logical place to start the Christian Commonwealth is in Washington, the spot in the U.S. fartherest from the cancer-infested East, where Jews reign. ‘We should make this a movement,’ he says, ‘from Washington (state) to Washington (D.C.).’"
"From position 2, walking about, taking a stance here and there, he goes into personal history. It seems that several years ago, while secluded in a New York apartment, he heard a call from God to go out and fight America’s enemies, so he went out and organized the Silver Legion to persecute the Jews."
"Time marched on, and not long ago Pelley got word through his direct connection with the Above that it was time for his Silvershirts to get into the political ring. ‘Today,’ says he, ‘We’re going straight ahead to get Christian Party candidates registered for every possible electoral office.’"
"And now, from position 3, leaning over confidentially, gesturing freely with his arms, he begins feeding out the propaganda– such stuff that it revolted us to see the people eating it out of his hand. Sample slices:"
"’That fine, brainy type of statesman, Adolf Hitler– .’"
"’There is no Fascism in Germany; Hitler has set up a protectorate over German institutions– .’"
"’Suppose a house is being robbed, and there are 12 of us in the room next to the one where the burglar is. We wouldn’t care whether or not we had badges; we’d go in and take the shirt off the burglar–‘ (Mind, it’s 12 against 1)."
"’Mussolini not only thumbed his nose at the League of Nations; he kicked it in the teeth–‘ (Exaltingly)."
"‘The Silvershirts are the guardians of the Christian Commonwealth, taking care of our poor, hungry, bedeviled people–‘."
"Just as we began thinking we could stomach no more, Pelley quit. During the intermission which followed, the ballyhooer signalled for the squeeze play and the collection plates were passed by some of the aides de camp, pompous because of the red ‘L’s’ sewed on their shirt fronts over their hearts. Those ‘L’s’, by the way, stand for ‘Life, Liberty, Love, Liberation.’"
"Collection results: $109.22. Not bad from an assemblage of 500 people, considering most of it came in dimes and nickels from the poor."
"Well, now we sing again, this time the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic,’ to sound the pitch for the man from California, Pelley’s right hand man, who soon rises to speak."
"And this guy plays no mean second fiddle to ‘the Chief’ in handing out the hokum:"
"’Roosevelt, the Big Grin, as the Chief likes to call him–‘."
"’I’d like to go back to Washington, D.C., and take the shirt off Tugwell– yes, and his britches too, if the ladies here will permit me to say so–‘."
"’We hope to do this job with pigskin gloves over knuckles of iron. But if it shall come to pass as when the Lord said, ‘I shall call for a sword throughout all the mountains against him,’ by the grace of God, we shall answer the call–‘."
"Thunderous applause, while we sat there with what we hoped was a sneer on our face, thinking: ‘Gosh darn! Are the people here really being taken in by that Pelley fellow up there in the black uniform and his right hand man, that guy in the black suit playing Hitler’s ‘Man of Iron’?’"
"’See,’ said an old man behind me to his wife, who had just been given a copy of Pelley’s Weekly by an aide, ‘just call on the Lord and he’ll answer you!’"
"’H’m,’ we thought, ‘that settles it,’ and we fought our way through the crowd to the door."
Malcolm M. Moore’s hometown paper in Ilwaco, The Tribune, barely mentioned their local gubernatorial prospect. The Oct. 9, 1936 issue did carry this small item buried on the bottom of page 1: "William Dudley Pelly, candidate for President of the United States, was in Ilwaco on Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 to 6 o’clock for the purpose of conferring with Malcolm M. Moore, Ilwaco candidate for Governor of the State of Washington. Accompanying Mr. Pelly was Dr. Clarke of Olympia, candidate for secretary of state for Washington and several other men, including a photographer, who took moving pictures of Malcolm Moore for use in the campaign. These gentlemen are candidates on the Christian party ticket for their respective offices."
It is interesting to note the Tribune editor considered the following headlines to be more important than Pelley’s visit, as they appeared on the top of the fold:
"Violinist Plays Delightful Music at PTA Program : Marion Egbert of South Bend Captures Audience With Charm of Music," "Ilwaco Boy Wins Prize in Window Display at Doupe Brothers’ Store," and "Kiwanis Stages Meeting Of Interest To Business."
Pelley did have one mainstream newspaper on his side, The Centralia Tribune. Chief Pelley and Silver Shirts Visit Centralia, screamed a banner headline on July 31, 1936. The paper ran a regular column containing excerpts from Pelley’s book, No More Hunger, and provided fawning and free front page advertising for Christian Party candidates under the guise of news.
If the Christian Party had dreams of sparking a popular uprising, the Washington State voters effectively nipped that idea in the bud. Moore finished sixth out of eight with 1,947 votes (0.29%), beating the Communist candidate by only eight votes. Moore placed third in Island (39 votes), Kitsap (171 votes) and Pacific (61 votes) counties. He also placed 4th, behind Union Party Ungovernor Nelson, in Lewis (233 votes) and Pierce (430 votes) counties.
Moore’s connection with the Christian Party appears to have ceased or dramatically tapered off after the 1936 campaign. As the country edged closer to World War II, the government went after Mr. Pelley and his organization. Malcolm avoided sharing Pelley’s fate of imprisonment.
Indeed, Mr. Moore continued his public life as if he had never been part of Pelley’s crew. According to P.U.D. historian Ken Billington, just a month after the 1936 election, Moore was present at the Dec. 7 formation of the Washington Public Utility Commissioners’ Association in Seattle and elected the first Secretary-Treasurer.
Although Malcolm’s Pelley connection was apparently never mentioned in subsequent newspaper articles or even his obituary, he seems to have been a controversial figure in political news. In Dec. 1940 Moore resigned as Secretary of the Pacific County P.U.D. (but retained his seat) after a shouting match with another Commissioner. He "resigned" his post altogether in Sept. 1949, as he walked out of an emotional public hearing concerning labor and management. He finally resigned for real in July 1955, with three years remaining in his term, "for personal reasons." He was still Treasurer for Ilwaco at the time.
The Moores moved to Bellingham in May 1966 in order to live closer to one of their daughters. Juanita died Apr. 15, 1969. Shortly after her death Malcolm broke a vertebrae and was confined to a rest home. He apparently had failing eyesight during his last years. He died in Bellingham at the age of 96, Aug. 8, 1979.
VP candidate for Christian Party (aka Christian Party of America) (1936)
Running mate with nominee: William Dudley Pelley (1890-1965)
Popular vote: 1,598 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/531
The campaign:
The campaign has been described in the Addendum (*) below. The Christian Party appeared on the ballot only in Washington State, where they ran a crop of candidates for several offices. Meanwhile, I'll share a few small details about the elusive Vice-Presidential nominee:
Willard W. Kemp, Pelley's running mate and resident of Alpine, Calif., had already gained attention from law enforcement before he was nominated. Based in the San Diego area, Kemp ran a paramilitary unit known as the "Silver Rangers" who would practice on property out in the hills east of El Cajon under the name of "San Diego Silver Shirt Rifle Club." The idea was to be prepared for May Day, 1934, when they would be waiting for an expect Communist uprising in San Diego and in the ensuing confusion the 200 or so Silver Shirts would emerge victorious and start their own revolution in the process with the help, Kemp believed, of local military units the San Diego Sheriff.
It didn't turn out that way. No Communists showed up, no uprising took place.
A government spy was within the midst of the Silver Shirts. Once he was discovered the fascists beat him and fractured his skull but it was too late to stop the government inquiries. By the time of the 1936 elections Kemp was already in the Federal radar.
What became of Kemp is a matter of conjecture. Did he quit the whole fascist organization in March, 1937 and vanish himself? Was he banned from living on the West Coast as a result of WWII security measures? One source claims Kemp killed himself after the 1936 defeat. Someone matching his name and description was in the news in Salt Lake City in 1938 as an alcoholic oil salesman accused of intoxicating some fireman on duty. His name came up frequently in 1940 during the Dies Committee investigations. Did Kemp die in Southern California in 1966? Lots of blanks to fill in on this case.
Election history: none
Other occupations: oil speculator and sales
Buried: ?
Notes:
*Addendum:
I originally compiled the following section for OlyBlog, Nov. 16, 2008, as a profile of 1936 Christian Party candidate for Washington State Governor Malcolm Mark Moore. Although Kemp is not named, he is described in a news report:
https://www.olyblog.net/newWP/2008/11/16/ungovernor-1936-malcolm-mark-moore/
Ungovernor, 1936 – Malcolm Mark Moore
The eight men running for Washington State Governor in 1936 represented the political spectrum from communist to theocratic fascist. And when I say "theocratic fascist," I’m not using inflammatory language to generalize a political group. No. The members of the Christian Party, or the Silver Shirts as they were known, promoted fascism, white supremacy, hatred of Jews, openly admired Hitler and Mussolini, and thought their presidential candidate communicated directly with otherworldly powers and was doing God’s work. What makes their gubernatorial candidate in 1936 so fascinating is that M.M. Moore was a respected political office-holder and pillar of the Ilwaco and Pacific County community. P.U.D. founder and Commissioner, Ilwaco City Treasurer and City Councilman, active in civic groups, store owner– his involvement with the Silver Shirts seemed out of place.
The historian Karen Hoppes provides some background on the Silver Shirts: "The Silvershirt Legion of America was born on January 30, 1933. Its founder and spiritual leader, William Dudley Pelley, fashioned the Silvershirts after the Storm Troopers of the NSDAP. Even though the ideology and structure mimicked the German Nazi Party, the Silvershirt Legion was the sole reflection of the spiritualistic ideas of its founder."
Pelley (1890-1965) had set up his headquarters in Asheville, N.C. Stating that he had "died" on May 29, 1928, the near-death experience had transformed him. According to Hoppes, "Pelley believed he had acquired amazing new powers of stamina and reflection. Furthermore, he claimed to possess a built-in ‘mental radio’ through which he could ‘tune in on the minds and voices of those in another dimension of being.’ Through his studies in astrology, occult, numerology and other metaphysical fields, Pelley concluded that he knew the answers to the questions plaguing mankind. These answers could be found in the messages of the Great Pyramid at Gizeh …" Hoppes says Pelley also predicted "the total collapse of the United States, which was to be September 16, 1936." He also predicted his own death would happen in 1962 (he guessed three years too soon) and Christ would return on Sept. 17, 2001.
It is estimated there were 15,000 party members by 1934. Pelley had visions of a "Christian Commonwealth." Hoppes: "In this system, the United States would be transformed into a giant corporation, which would be operated by native-born white American Christian stockholders who, without having to work, would each receive monthly dividends of $83.33."
The uniform, which was required to be worn at all party functions, consisted of a silver-gray shirt and a red "L" on the left breast. A blue tie included the special individual membership number sewn on. Party initiation and regulations were strict and complete obedience was expected.
Pelley announced his run for the U.S. Presidency in 1935, but managed to get his name on the ballot of only one state. Yup. You got it. The Evergreen State. The historian Eckard V. Toy Jr., disputing the oft-quoted "Soviet of Washington" label, makes this case for Pelley’s ability to run in our state: "Washington’s exceptionalism during the 1930s was probably due less to the radicalism of its parties than to the ‘eccentricity and opportunism’ of some of its politicians. The novelist Mary McCarthy made this point in 1936 when she described her home state’s political atmosphere as ‘wild, comic, theatrical, dishonest, disorganized, hopeful; but … not revolutionary.’"
Washington State was foreign territory to Pelley, but in spite of that he had no trouble attracting candidates to run for statewide office. Some of them had been active in Townsend Clubs and/or the Liberty Party campaign of 1932. They came from the middle class, some of them were professional men. Dr. Dwight D. Clarke of Olympia was the Christian Party candidate for Secretary of State. Chehalis insurance salesman Orville Roundtree, who had run for U.S. Congress as a Democrat in 1932 and Liberty Party in 1934, was trying a third time for the same office under the Christian Party. Roundtree would become Pelley’s chief organizer in Washington.
And then there was Christian Party gubernatorial candidate, M.M. Moore.
Malcolm Mark Moore was born in Washington State, probably in Clark County, Aug. 1883. He was the son of Ohio native Frank M. Moore, employed as a civilian clerk at Vancouver Barracks. In 1900 Frank appears to be a single father with two children, Malcolm and Alice. Malcolm married Juanita, a native of Oregon, around 1906 and settled in Portland. While there he worked as a clerk (1910) and by 1920 was a salesman for Goodyear Rubber Co. The couple had two daughters and a son. The Moores moved to Ilwaco around 1924.
Moore became active in Ilwaco civic affairs. A May 13, 1966 article in the Chinook Observer outlines Moore’s resume: "Mr. Moore has lived in Ilwaco for 42 years past and served in that city as a volunteer fireman for 30 years, on the town council for six years, town treasurer for nine years, town clerk for seven years, Ilwaco port auditor for five years, was organizer of Pacific county’s Public Utility District No. 2, and served as its commissioner for 20 years, and was secretary and a director of the Washington PUD Commissioners’ Association for six years."
"The Father of Public Power in Pacific County" as the South Bend Journal liked to call him, earned that name by being a tireless proponent of the then radical notion of establishing public utility districts in place of private power monopolies. It is hard to imagine the distinguished gentleman I see in newspaper photos allowing himself to wear a silly uniform and sign up with a specimen like Pelley. But he did.
Pelley campaigned throughout the state, giving many speeches. He was basically ignored by the press. One of the few descriptions of a Christian Party rally I found by a non-Pelley source comes from the left-wing Washington Commonwealth (Seattle), July 4, 1936:
Christian Party Strut Heroics
Staff Correspondent Attends Meeting of the Lowly Followers of the Self Styled Gods’ Own Representative
Ever seen William Dudley Pelley and his crew in action at a meeting of the Christian Commonwealth Party?
No? Then you’ve missed seeing some slickers work at the old game of skinning the people.
Boy, what a show! And how folks go for it!
"Into the crowded hall (Moose Temple, last Tuesday) walks Pelley, followed by his lieutenant, a tall false-alarm from California who aspires to be vice-president of the U.S., followed by their big noise, the official ballyhooer, followed by six color-bearers, three carrying the Stars and Stripes, and three the flag of the Christian Party– a big red "L" sewed on a field of white."
"Meanwhile we in the audience arise and sing the ‘Star Spangled Banner.’"
"Song concluded, and the air thus properly thickened with patriotism, the ballyhooer, now on the platform, starts out: ‘Folks, this is STILL America!’ (Applause)."
"’This is STILL the land of the free and the home of the brave!’ (Loud applause)."
"’And by God, citizens like us are going to see that it stays so!’ (Louder applause)."
"The big noise now proceeds to his real business, the build-up of Pelley, who is to follow him on the program, winding up, ‘And now I wish to introduce the man who has been chosen by God to lead America out of the depression!’"
"When Pelley takes the platform everyone gets up, including us, though we’re a little sickened by this tribute."
"Pelley gives us the works. From position 1, straight front to the audience, hands in pockets, he tells us that in all his travels through 30 states he has not seen a group of people more intelligent-looking than this one; that the logical place to start the Christian Commonwealth is in Washington, the spot in the U.S. fartherest from the cancer-infested East, where Jews reign. ‘We should make this a movement,’ he says, ‘from Washington (state) to Washington (D.C.).’"
"From position 2, walking about, taking a stance here and there, he goes into personal history. It seems that several years ago, while secluded in a New York apartment, he heard a call from God to go out and fight America’s enemies, so he went out and organized the Silver Legion to persecute the Jews."
"Time marched on, and not long ago Pelley got word through his direct connection with the Above that it was time for his Silvershirts to get into the political ring. ‘Today,’ says he, ‘We’re going straight ahead to get Christian Party candidates registered for every possible electoral office.’"
"And now, from position 3, leaning over confidentially, gesturing freely with his arms, he begins feeding out the propaganda– such stuff that it revolted us to see the people eating it out of his hand. Sample slices:"
"’That fine, brainy type of statesman, Adolf Hitler– .’"
"’There is no Fascism in Germany; Hitler has set up a protectorate over German institutions– .’"
"’Suppose a house is being robbed, and there are 12 of us in the room next to the one where the burglar is. We wouldn’t care whether or not we had badges; we’d go in and take the shirt off the burglar–‘ (Mind, it’s 12 against 1)."
"’Mussolini not only thumbed his nose at the League of Nations; he kicked it in the teeth–‘ (Exaltingly)."
"‘The Silvershirts are the guardians of the Christian Commonwealth, taking care of our poor, hungry, bedeviled people–‘."
"Just as we began thinking we could stomach no more, Pelley quit. During the intermission which followed, the ballyhooer signalled for the squeeze play and the collection plates were passed by some of the aides de camp, pompous because of the red ‘L’s’ sewed on their shirt fronts over their hearts. Those ‘L’s’, by the way, stand for ‘Life, Liberty, Love, Liberation.’"
"Collection results: $109.22. Not bad from an assemblage of 500 people, considering most of it came in dimes and nickels from the poor."
"Well, now we sing again, this time the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic,’ to sound the pitch for the man from California, Pelley’s right hand man, who soon rises to speak."
"And this guy plays no mean second fiddle to ‘the Chief’ in handing out the hokum:"
"’Roosevelt, the Big Grin, as the Chief likes to call him–‘."
"’I’d like to go back to Washington, D.C., and take the shirt off Tugwell– yes, and his britches too, if the ladies here will permit me to say so–‘."
"’We hope to do this job with pigskin gloves over knuckles of iron. But if it shall come to pass as when the Lord said, ‘I shall call for a sword throughout all the mountains against him,’ by the grace of God, we shall answer the call–‘."
"Thunderous applause, while we sat there with what we hoped was a sneer on our face, thinking: ‘Gosh darn! Are the people here really being taken in by that Pelley fellow up there in the black uniform and his right hand man, that guy in the black suit playing Hitler’s ‘Man of Iron’?’"
"’See,’ said an old man behind me to his wife, who had just been given a copy of Pelley’s Weekly by an aide, ‘just call on the Lord and he’ll answer you!’"
"’H’m,’ we thought, ‘that settles it,’ and we fought our way through the crowd to the door."
Malcolm M. Moore’s hometown paper in Ilwaco, The Tribune, barely mentioned their local gubernatorial prospect. The Oct. 9, 1936 issue did carry this small item buried on the bottom of page 1: "William Dudley Pelly, candidate for President of the United States, was in Ilwaco on Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 to 6 o’clock for the purpose of conferring with Malcolm M. Moore, Ilwaco candidate for Governor of the State of Washington. Accompanying Mr. Pelly was Dr. Clarke of Olympia, candidate for secretary of state for Washington and several other men, including a photographer, who took moving pictures of Malcolm Moore for use in the campaign. These gentlemen are candidates on the Christian party ticket for their respective offices."
It is interesting to note the Tribune editor considered the following headlines to be more important than Pelley’s visit, as they appeared on the top of the fold:
"Violinist Plays Delightful Music at PTA Program : Marion Egbert of South Bend Captures Audience With Charm of Music," "Ilwaco Boy Wins Prize in Window Display at Doupe Brothers’ Store," and "Kiwanis Stages Meeting Of Interest To Business."
Pelley did have one mainstream newspaper on his side, The Centralia Tribune. Chief Pelley and Silver Shirts Visit Centralia, screamed a banner headline on July 31, 1936. The paper ran a regular column containing excerpts from Pelley’s book, No More Hunger, and provided fawning and free front page advertising for Christian Party candidates under the guise of news.
If the Christian Party had dreams of sparking a popular uprising, the Washington State voters effectively nipped that idea in the bud. Moore finished sixth out of eight with 1,947 votes (0.29%), beating the Communist candidate by only eight votes. Moore placed third in Island (39 votes), Kitsap (171 votes) and Pacific (61 votes) counties. He also placed 4th, behind Union Party Ungovernor Nelson, in Lewis (233 votes) and Pierce (430 votes) counties.
Moore’s connection with the Christian Party appears to have ceased or dramatically tapered off after the 1936 campaign. As the country edged closer to World War II, the government went after Mr. Pelley and his organization. Malcolm avoided sharing Pelley’s fate of imprisonment.
Indeed, Mr. Moore continued his public life as if he had never been part of Pelley’s crew. According to P.U.D. historian Ken Billington, just a month after the 1936 election, Moore was present at the Dec. 7 formation of the Washington Public Utility Commissioners’ Association in Seattle and elected the first Secretary-Treasurer.
Although Malcolm’s Pelley connection was apparently never mentioned in subsequent newspaper articles or even his obituary, he seems to have been a controversial figure in political news. In Dec. 1940 Moore resigned as Secretary of the Pacific County P.U.D. (but retained his seat) after a shouting match with another Commissioner. He "resigned" his post altogether in Sept. 1949, as he walked out of an emotional public hearing concerning labor and management. He finally resigned for real in July 1955, with three years remaining in his term, "for personal reasons." He was still Treasurer for Ilwaco at the time.
The Moores moved to Bellingham in May 1966 in order to live closer to one of their daughters. Juanita died Apr. 15, 1969. Shortly after her death Malcolm broke a vertebrae and was confined to a rest home. He apparently had failing eyesight during his last years. He died in Bellingham at the age of 96, Aug. 8, 1979.
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Ungovernor, 1936 – William Morley Bouck
Bouck was also the very first Washingtonian to be a third party Vice-Presidential candidate, but he never made it to the ballot. His own party basically evaporated on a national level shortly after the nominating convention in 1924 and the campaign was dropped.
Here is his story as it was originally posted on OlyBlog, Nov. 10, 2008--
https://www.olyblog.net/newWP/2008/11/10/ungovernor-1936-william-morley-bouck/
Ungovernor, 1936 – William Morley Bouck
When William Morley Bouck ran for Washington State Governor in his final bid for public office, the most colorful part of the old Granger’s career was behind him. Carlos A. Schwantes called him, "A complex man who publicly delighted in goading the rich and powerful and clearly hoped to lead American farmers into a brave new world." Farmer, family man, teacher, renegade Grange Master, a radical arrested on conspiracy charges, Congressional and Vice-Presidential candidate, Bouck has attracted the attention many historians and writers, including Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic. But few of them seem aware Mr. Bouck can be counted among the Ungovernors.
Bouck was born Sept. 5, 1868 in Independence, Iowa, the son of John Stacy Bouck, a Methodist circuit-riding minister and farmer, and Elizabeth Dawson (Elliott) Bouck. His great-uncle, William C. Bouck (1786-1859), was a Democrat who served one term as Governor of New York 1843-1844.
The Bouck family moved to Royalton, Minn. in 1879. Their next door neighbor was August Lindbergh, Grandfather of Lucky Lindy. Will attended school in Princeton, Minn. around 1885. He became a teacher and worked in Clear Lake, Minn. (1888), Santiago, Minn. (1890) and Milaca, Minn. (1890). In Milaca he was appointed Postmaster and worked as a timekeeper in the local mill as well. On Aug. 27, 1891 he married another teacher, Lura Adelia Snow, in Princeton.
Following other family members, Will and Lura moved to Silverton, Wash. in June 1893. Silverton was a mining boom town in central Snohomish County. Before the mines closed in 1895, Bouck had served as Postmaster, operated a general store, worked in logging, mining, surveying, and purchased a small farm. The Boucks lived in Cheney for a brief period, 1896-1897, returned to Silverton 1897-1902, and finally settled for good in Sedro-Woolley.
Will and Lura started a farm and had a business growing tulips and other ornamental flowers. The Boucks also sold milk, berries, and produce. By and by the couple had five children.
William M. Bouck had been politically active during these years. As Schwantes explains, "People described Bouck as a large, powerfully built but quiet and purposeful fellow who pursued his reform goals with the tenacity of a bulldog. He was by turns a crusading Populist, a Bull Moose Progressive, and an early and avid supporter of the Nonpartisan League, a movement with socialist overtones that in 1916 swept out of North Dakota like a prairie fire. He was also a member of the Western federation of Miners and had experienced industrial violence firsthand."
According to author Gus Norwood, Bouck had organized 35 granges for the Washington State Grange. Krist Novoselic provides a nice summary of Bouck’s rise: "Carey B. Kegley served as state Master (President) from 1905 to 1917. An ardent progressive, he made enemies of conservative Washington State politicians; a group he derided as the ‘Fish, Sawdust and Whiskey Gang.’ Kegley also aggravated the leadership of the conservative National Grange. Master Kegley died in office [Oct. 29, 1917]. As Overseer, (Vice President) William Morley Bouck became acting state leader of the 15,000 member organization."
Under Bouck the Grange membership grew another 50% to over 20,000. Although the Grange supposedly was neutral regarding political parties, Bouck was tied to the Nonpartisan League and was held in deep suspicion by the business community. At the June 1918 Grange Convention at Walla Walla, the situation turned ugly when Bouck was elected Grange Master on his own. Marilyn P. Watkins writes: "Many outside the organization viewed Bouck’s election as an endorsement by the State Grange of the NPL. Walla Walla citizens were primed to respond. At ten o’clock on the evening of June 6, 1918, the State Grange’s installation ceremony for their new officers was interrupted by a delegation from a Walla Walla citizens’ meeting backed by a number of ‘husky’ gunmen gathered outside. The delegation gave the Grange thirty minutes to vacate the hall. Fifteen minutes of arguments produced no change of heart, so the Grangers closed their meeting in due form, then marched from the hall carrying the flag and singing ‘America.’ The Grange was unable to find another meeting site in Walla Walla. The town mayor and sheriff refused to guarantee the safety of the Grangers. The executive committee sent a telegram to governor Lister, the former Populist, requesting use of the National Guard armory located there. They received no reply. Committees conducted their business in hotel rooms, and the executive committee finished up the necessary work in the more hospitable– or at least anonymous– environment of Seattle."
Bouck used his position as a political platform. He toured the state and gave speeches concerning the Great War and economics. Novoselic: "… At the Bow Grange, he called on increasing taxes on the wealthy to finance the war effort. He opposed mortgaging the war through the sale of Liberty Bonds and worried about a war debt that could exceed $100 billion. In the course of the speech, he invoked the term ‘rich man’s war’ many times. There were groans and loud talking at the back of the room. While driving to Burlington, all four of Bouck’s tires went flat. It was obviously sabotage. It’s speculated mischief-makers also testified to a secret grand jury in Seattle about Bouck’s remarks."
According to one government document, one such informer was Bow Postmaster David R. Gilkey, who told the Feds he heard Bouck say: "If I am disloyal President Wilson is worse than disloyal; he is a traitor. When you buy a Liberty Bond you are merely piling up a mortgage for your children to pay. Liberty Bonds ought not to be sold. The war should be paid for by direct taxes …" Another informer was Clifford R. Conn, who quoted Bouck as saying: "If the Non-Partisan League is disloyal then President Wilson is a traitor. Farmers, you have been asleep for 30 years; by joining the League we could take over the Government and control it … there is no democracy today and we are forced to fight against our will."
And as a result of this speech, Will Bouck joined the club of Ungovernors who were arrested for being an Official Pain in the Ass to the status quo. He was busted in August 1918 under the Espionage Act for interfering with the War effort. The trial was set for Oct. 22, but was delayed until January 1919 due to the influenza pandemic. Meanwhile, the War ended on Nov. 11, and the prosecutors were having trouble putting together an airtight argument. The case was dismissed Dec. 21, 1918.
The experience moved him closer to the Left. Schwantes: "For both William Bouck and the farmer-labor movement, World War I had been a time of trial. Both survived the ordeal but both were changed by it. Bouck emerged from the harassment more alienated and more outspokenly radical than before."
In 1920 Will ran for U.S. Congress in the 2nd District under the banner of the newly formed Farmer Labor Party. He was the only challenger to 3-term incumbent Republican Rep. Lindley Hoag Hadley (1861-1948). He ran a strong campaign and finished with an impressive 26,398 votes (40.17%). Of this election, Schwantes said: "Bouck’s 1920 Congressional race represented the summit of his public life."
During the same month as the 1920 election, the National Grange Convention in Boston was not pleased with the Washington State Master. According to Norwood, "Bouck was charged and forced to stand trial on grounds of ‘injecting partisan politics into the Grange’ and seven other charges, filed by a Yakima attorney. Three charges were thrown out. He was convicted on five trumped up charges, required to apologize, receive the National master’s reprimand and then renewed his pledge to uphold the order. It was a galling experience, and added much to Bouck’s bitterness."
That bitterness found expression in what was probably the most controversial speech of Bouck’s career, given at the 23rd Annual Session of the Washington State Grange held at Colville, June 7-10, 1921. Some excerpts:
"During the war just passed, brought on with the design of preventing the further growth of democratic ideas, during which the opponents of democracy under the guise of patriotism, sought to imprison and hound to death progressive leaders and thinkers, we had an abiding trust that somehow, someway, simon-pure democracy was to be handed to us from above. But democracy is never handed down– citizens establish it. They do not receive it. We are in much worse state than ever before in our history. The reign of greed, and the subjection of the producer has been fastened upon the people with iron shackles. Our state and nation are in the iron grip of a ‘dollar-ocracy’ more greedy, more relentless, than any autocracy of modern or ancient history. Our shops and mines have become slave pens and shambles where more widows starve and more children drag out a miserable existence, than in the slave marts of ancient Rome or Carthage. In a state where rulers are made in the counting houses, where courts receive their instructions from the money changer, and where the schools are used as an adjunct to a corrupt, lying oligarchy of money, citizenship cannot develop or blossom freely …"
"Of course the Grange is in politics– to stay until the farmer is emancipated– what else could a self-respecting body of farmers do? How the Grange could keep out of politics and function at all is a conundrum to me … To say a Grange can not discuss vitally important political questions is like telling a person not to breathe– he must breathe to live."
"America should hang her head in shame at the treatment of our workers by the industrial Overlords of the country."
"If governments were operated for service, not pillage, as at present, we would all receive more nearly universal justice. In a land so wonderfully rich and whose opportunities have been so vast there should be a partnership of the people with all sharing in the mutual benefits. To lavish benefits upon the few, and leave the many in penury and want seems so wrong and unnecessary that one wonders how human beings of ordinary intelligence can tolerate the system that permits such conditions. Our government at present consists of those who prey like vultures upon the rest of humanity and the masses are mere chattels. This has been brought about largely by taxation."
"Our legislature is a joke– but a serious one, for the people of Washington State– and we will never get rid of this perennial parasitic nuisance until we overcome our silly party superstitions. Their minds hark back to medieval ignorance and hate, not to Twentieth Century progress …"
"During the war we were regaled with promises, roseate and beautiful about the wonderful peace ahead of us, to lure us to more butchery and suffering and ruination, and what is the result? Nothing in past horrors can equal the present state of millions of workers, their wives and their children, as a result of the war. No work, no crops, no stock– starving, hopeless and death-sick– this is the peace we were promised during the war. And what was it all for? To bolster up a commercial system. A system of robbery and pillage, to crush radical ideas, to kill off a part of the leaders of the people and starve the rest into submission, and under the guise of lying patriotism, to pass syndicalist laws and other medieval acts to oppress the toilers."
"Let us quit kidding ourselves with the idea that we are Divinely appointed to rob and murder other nations under the guise of Christianity. Let us Christianize and educate ourselves a little at home, before we engage in a so-called divinely appointed murdering and pillaging business abroad."
"The men who made billions out of war profits are going free with their loot …"
"Militarism is the result of ignorance and the profit system– the costliest thing in the world … Let’s organize against this terror of capitalism– its tool in fact. Let’s agree to pay no taxes– to lend no aid– to refuse to serve as soldiers for our government or any other to carry on war, except to repel invasion."
"Perhaps nowhere in our shameful history of dollar worship have we descended to such depths as in the kind of newspapers we tolerate and support … Our papers are the publicity agents of the trusts, the promoting banker, gambler, the speculator, and the manipulator of money and bonds. They do not want the truth. They are the agents of whoever can and will put up the most money and they will slander, vilify, ruin and steal the character or property of anyone for money. No reporter can succeed unless he colors the truth to serve some exploiting purpose. No editor can stay upon one of our metropolitan papers unless devoid of decency …"
"We take every old bit of superstition and bigotry we can find and cram it into our children’s minds, and then we call them educated."
Bouck knew what he was doing and expected trouble. Before the National Grange expelled him in Nov. 1921, he had already started forming a splinter grange, the Western Progressive Farmers (later called the Progressive Farmers of America in 1926). When Bouck walked, he took about 5000 members with him.
Meanwhile, Bouck had remained active in the Farmer Labor Party. This organization experienced strife concerning the presence of Communists. At their 1924 convention in St. Paul, Minn., the FLP considered endorsing Progressive Sen. Robert LaFollette, but the Senator would have none of that– he hated Communists. So the FLP nominated Duncan McDonald for President and William Morley Bouck as his running mate. Bouck was a VP candidate less than a month, for shortly after the nominations the national party made the decision to disband. Some state FLPs, however, continued to limp along, including Washington’s.
But as the Jazz Decade edged closer to the Stock Market Crash, the FLP faded and so did Bouck’s renegade grange. He made another run against Rep. Hadley in 1930, running as a FLP candidate. No Democrat entered the race, and Will placed second with 3,428 votes (6.45%). The eccentric August Toellner, "The Marrying Justice of the Duwamish," placed third and a Communist was last.
Lura Bouck died Feb. 3, 1936. Maybe her death was related to Will’s decision to run for Governor, maybe not. He was 68 years old.
Running under the Farmer-Labor Commonwealth label, Bouck’s entry into the crowded field was not exactly greeted with banner headlines. The Centralia Chronicle editorialized Oct. 22, 1936: "Some years ago William Bouck of Sedro-Woolley was master of the State Grange. He was the leader of the extreme left wing element among the farmers. He is now the candidate for governor of the Farmer Labor party ticket and may be given the endorsement of the Washington Commonwealth Federation. It is but natural that Bouck will support President Roosevelt for re-election. It is also natural that he is pledged to the production-for-use program and government ownership of everything in sight. The announcement that Bouck would be a candidate for governor seeking the support of the radical element is a part of the old program in this state, more or less successful, attempting to ally the farmers with organized labor …"
One campaign photo of Bouck accompanying an announcement of a speech he will give in Seattle shows a tough and alert looking older gentleman.
Bouck finished 5th out of 8 candidates with a paltry 1,994 votes (0.30%).
William Morley Bouck died Oct. 24, 1945 in Sedro-Woolley Memorial Hospital after being ill for several months.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Twisted Conundrum, Be the Veep
Around 2000-2001 I supposedly had a regular column in The Seattle Stranger regarding strange "what-if?" questions. I say "supposedly" because although I would receive a $50 weekly check, I never actually saw the column in print. But then again, I live in rural Washington outside of the I-5 corridor beyond the tabloid's distribution area.
Anyway, one of these columns written during that time period had to do with being a Vice-Presidential running mate. The piece was later reposted on OlyBlog in 2006. And here it is once again, just as conundrummy now as it was then:
https://www.olyblog.net/newWP/2006/03/19/twisted-conundrum-be-the-veep/
Twisted Conundrum, Be the Veep
During the last few Presidential elections we seem to be getting a pattern of having at least one candidate who is incredibly wealthy, but has little or no government experience (Perot, Forbes, Trump come to mind). They want us to believe the size of their bank accounts qualifies them to sit in the Oval Office.
In May or June of one such election year, one of these wealthy candidates knocks on your door. He has selected YOU out of millions of random Americans. We have to assume you are a natural-born citizen and over the age of 35. This candidate knows that his wealth is actually a handicap, creating a wall between himself and the average American. He needs someone on his team who can give him a reality check, to remind him what it is like to be a wage-slave. He wants someone next to him who will appeal to the everyday voter. In short, he wants you to be his running mate.
He somewhat shamelessly says that he will tout you as his proof that he is connected to the needs and concerns of just plain folks. And if your ticket wins, you will hold a position that will be almost 100% ceremonial. He is up front about it– you are a token, he could care less about your views on government, politics, or social issues.
In fact, he says that you can say anything you want on the campaign trail. You will be expected to hit the same circuit as most Vice-presidential candidates, but the difference will be that the standard bearer will not expect total loyalty. Indeed, he almost invites you to disagree on issues with him in public as proof that he is tolerant and inclusive. And if you screw up– well, this candidate believes there is no such thing as bad publicity.
You do not draw a salary for this adventure, but all expenses are covered.
So, can we expect to see your name on bumper stickers and campaign buttons?
Anyway, one of these columns written during that time period had to do with being a Vice-Presidential running mate. The piece was later reposted on OlyBlog in 2006. And here it is once again, just as conundrummy now as it was then:
https://www.olyblog.net/newWP/2006/03/19/twisted-conundrum-be-the-veep/
Twisted Conundrum, Be the Veep
During the last few Presidential elections we seem to be getting a pattern of having at least one candidate who is incredibly wealthy, but has little or no government experience (Perot, Forbes, Trump come to mind). They want us to believe the size of their bank accounts qualifies them to sit in the Oval Office.
In May or June of one such election year, one of these wealthy candidates knocks on your door. He has selected YOU out of millions of random Americans. We have to assume you are a natural-born citizen and over the age of 35. This candidate knows that his wealth is actually a handicap, creating a wall between himself and the average American. He needs someone on his team who can give him a reality check, to remind him what it is like to be a wage-slave. He wants someone next to him who will appeal to the everyday voter. In short, he wants you to be his running mate.
He somewhat shamelessly says that he will tout you as his proof that he is connected to the needs and concerns of just plain folks. And if your ticket wins, you will hold a position that will be almost 100% ceremonial. He is up front about it– you are a token, he could care less about your views on government, politics, or social issues.
In fact, he says that you can say anything you want on the campaign trail. You will be expected to hit the same circuit as most Vice-presidential candidates, but the difference will be that the standard bearer will not expect total loyalty. Indeed, he almost invites you to disagree on issues with him in public as proof that he is tolerant and inclusive. And if you screw up– well, this candidate believes there is no such thing as bad publicity.
You do not draw a salary for this adventure, but all expenses are covered.
So, can we expect to see your name on bumper stickers and campaign buttons?
Monday, May 6, 2019
Loggers Don’t Mind a Good Fight : Gene Amondson and the Prohibition Party
Hey, a bonus article! I conducted the following interview and originally posted it on OlyBlog on May 14, 2007. The link includes the numerous comments on the original post.
https://www.olyblog.net/newWP/2007/05/14/loggers-dont-mind-a-good-fight-gene-amondson-and-the-prohibition-party/
Loggers Don’t Mind a Good Fight : Gene Amondson and the Prohibition Party
I like third parties and political underdogs. As some of you OlyBloggers might recall, my 2008 presidential coverage began with Mike Gravel’s announcement of his candidacy and his brief Olympia connection. Last week I had the opportunity to chat with another long-shot, Gene Amondson, 2004 candidate (and presumptive 2008 standard-bearer) of the Prohibition Party.
Actually, Mr. Amondson was not the candidate in 2004, but rather a candidate. The Prohibition Party, America’s oldest continuous third party, has been experiencing some intra-political struggles in the last few years. Amondson appears to represent the new blood, the dynamic faction. He was on the ballot in Louisiana and Colorado in 2004. In the latter state, Amondson outpolled Earl Dodge, a name linked with the Party’s old guard. This result has apparently been viewed by Amondson’s followers as a party primary, making Gene the provisional candidate for 2008.
My interest in his campaign stems from his Washington State connection. Off the top of my head he is only the third Evergreen State native, after Scoop Jackson and Pat Paulsen, to seek the presidency. Mr. Amondson opened our phone conversation with questions for me. He likes to know his audience. Was I raised Catholic or Protestant? I grew up Methodist. Am I still going to church? I answered that I’m not religious but I think of myself as spiritual. “I’m not religious, but I’m a liar, but I like you anyway,” he cheerfully responded.
The Amondson campaign does seem based on religion. Well, Protestant religion to be more precise. Two of his heroes are John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, and Billy Sunday, the take-no-prisoners hell-fire preacher of the Jazz Age. Amondson has a one man Billy Sunday performance, re-enacting the old timey sermons. He is particularly fond of this Billy Sunday quote: “I hope to see the United States become so dry that you will have to prime a man before he can spit.”
Which brings us to the subject of alcohol. Mr. Amondson is against it.
Alcohol, says Amondson, is the original gateway drug. “It fills our prisons,” he points out. The fact one of America’s most dangerous drugs is not only legal but promoted through advertising is something the Prohibition Party wants to change. Where a Libertarian (Amondson enjoys the term “Losertarian”) might want to decriminalize a number of currently illegal substances, prohibitionists want to add alcohol to the list alongside heroin and meth.
The Prohibition Party’s 2004 platform is extremely conservative on non-alcohol issues, so it is startling to hear Amondson give a strong anti-corporate angle to his message. “Nobody is dealing with alcohol,” he says, pointing out the famous right-wing radio hosts, televangelists, and Republican leaders have been “bought off” by the alcohol, tobacco and gambling industries.
“We gotta wake up!” is a motto he likes to use. “Dumb people drink,” Amondson says as he outlines a vision of starting a national preventative education program in the event he wins the election. He is pleased to see smoking has become less and less socially acceptable. “We need to look at drinking as dumb as smoking,” and is disappointed at the right wing for dropping the ball on the smoking issue. “It should have been the Christians, the Republicans, but it was the Democrats” who cracked down on tobacco, he says with disgust. One is left with the impression he is attempting to shame his fellow conservatives into joining the fight rather than reach out to moderate voters.
In spite of that, Amondson still likes George W. Bush. Although he thinks Bush has really stopped drinking, he wishes the President would use his high-visibility position to educate young people on how much damage alcohol created in his life. He thinks Laura Bush might possibly be a smoker, and that bothers him. I didn’t ask about the escapades of the Bush twins.
Amondson clearly enjoys being a candidate, even when being the butt of a joke, as he was on the Daily Show. “It’s fun,” he says. He is probably the only person running for President who dresses up as the Grim Reaper to make a political point, whether it is picketing a winery or just walking in front of bars with a bottle in hand asking tavern customers, “Still drinkin’ this stuff?” In 2008 he would like to be on the ballot in five or six states and double his 2004 media coverage to get the anti-alcohol message out there. He likes “revealing new facts the voters never knew.” Especially when it comes to defending America’s experiment with Prohibition in the 1920s.
Aside from having a religious foundation, his campaign also sees alcohol as a human rights and child abuse issue. This was shaped by his personal experience while growing up in the area of his native town– Morton, Washington.
The Amondson name is part of Lewis County history. Gene’s father was a preacher. His uncle “Porky” Amondson was a well known law enforcement officer. Neil Amondson, a recent Republican State Legislator from Lewis County, is Gene’s brother.
Morton, where Gene was born in 1943, was (and is) in logging country. And Eastern Lewis County being isolated, it was also something of a refugee camp for moonshiners who had been chased out of other areas or released from prison, according to Amondson. As a child he witnessed drunken logger brawls and went to school alongside children of alcoholics who were inadequately clothed. “I grew up in a little denomination like Methodist called Church of God (Anderson, Indiana bunch). My Dad worked for a logging company in Kosmos, Washington, and the logging camp and booze is where I learned about booze.” He became aware of how alcohol abuse was a family disease and not a victimless problem.
He worked as a choker setter for logging operations from Oregon to Alaska, continuing to see how alcohol ravaged the lives of his fellow lumbermen. In Alaska, Amondson said “Mail pilots could always tell a drunk town from a dry town from the amount of garbage visible from the air.”
When I asked Mr. Amondson if there was something about being a Washingtonian that set him apart from other candidates, he replied:
“Loggers don’t mind a good fight”
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